Flying-machine.



G. STURGESS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1910.

1,049,289,. Patented Dec. 31, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I V S u 1 Tm JHTorneg G. STUR GESS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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j V [9 H701 Afiumeg GEORGE STURGESS, 0F NEWQUAYS, MABLETHORPE, ENGLAND.

FLYING-MAC INE.

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Application filed April 25, 1910. Serial No. 557,524.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Gnonen S'rUncEss, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Newquays, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, England, but whose post-otlice address is at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification, I

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of flying machines which enable them to run with case on the ground or on ordinary roads when not flying.

I provide a large road wheel or rim en ClICllIlg or partly encircling the ap miratus and arranged tomeet the groundwhen the machine descends and to travel upon it 1n such a manner that the machine may be used of a monoplane it may be situated entirelybelow the plane.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, refere ce is had. to the accompanying sheets o drawings in which I Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a rear elevation partly in section of part of an aeroplane with my double ruad rim applied: Fig. 3-is a side elevation to a small scale of a complete monoplane showing diagrammatically the application of the road rim; and Figs. 4 and 5- are sections of two forms of rim with the supporting rollers.

A is the deeply channeled road rim, :1 pair being shown inFig. 2, placed on either side of the frame B of the aeroplane to give a wide wheel base. The rim is preferably provided with the solid rubber tire a or a, shown in Figs. 4' and 5 of the drawings,.but the tread of the rim may be of any suitable type. The channel must be of sufiicient depth to give the necessary rigidity to the rim without requiring excessive weight.

The rim is mounted to rotate freely upon the rollers C which turn on ball bearings at the corners of a strong frame, shown of approximately square form and consisting of.

the radial arms I) with connecting bars 11 forming the sides of the frame. At the lower part of the frame an additional radial arm d is provided, supporting directly the s ecial roller C placed a little in front of tie bottom roller and at such an'angle that, when the flying machine 'alights, on the ground, the supporting rollers C will directly receive the pressure on the rim, preventing any danger of buckling. The angle between Specification of LettersPatenta Patented ec. 31,1912.

the two bottom radial arms is set to suit the gliding angle of the flying machine.

The supporting frame is mounted to turn about a fulcrum at d close to the front of the main frame B of the machine, a cross tube E, as shown in Fig. 2, extending across the front of the frame to carry the roller frame at each end. v i

To give the. necessary resiliency to the roller frame a spring device is employed consisting, in thevform illustrated, of a strong springF, which may be of stranded rubber cross bar G fixed across the bottom of the main frame and, at its upper end,-to an extension d 'from the hub. d of the roller frame. A suitablestop may be provided to prevent the roller frame and rim rising beyond a certain distance.

or metal, attached at its lower end 'to the The rim is shown in the drawings as applied to a. monoplane of which the main spars are shown at B and the rib of theplane at B In this case the lane is out to allow theupper edgeof the I'lIll A and the supporting frame to project through but. in the case of a very large rim, the plane or planes may be entirely encircled by the rim.

With a large road rim of the type described a flying machine can start from or alight upon rough ground or an ordinary road and can be arranged to travel upon such ground Without difficulty. As in descending, even at a considerable angle, the rim will bethe first point to strike the i ground the danger of accident is greatly re l duced, The double rim is the one preferably central rim may be su cost of the apparatus.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis p 1. In a flying machine, a large road rim,

, asupporting frame flexibly mounted on the main frame, and rollers on the supporting frame to carry the rolling road rim.

2. In a flying machine, a large road rim, a spring controlled supporting frame with radial arms mounted to turn upon the main frame of the machine, and rollers at the corners of the said frame, the frame having an auxiliary arm and roller set forward of'the bottom roller to receive the shock on meeting the ground; 7

3. In a' flying machine, a large road rim, a frame within the rim pivoted. upon the main frame of the machine on an axis lying cient, reducing the within the rim at the front, rollers on the frame carrying the road rim, and a spring connecting the pivoted frame to the main frame. v

'4; In a flyin machine, two large road rims, one on eac side of the main frame of the machine and'having a common axis, a supporting frame within each mm, a. henzontal cross arm on the front of the main frame, on the ends of-which the supporting frame is mounted to turn, andspring conneetions from the two pivoted frames to the main frame.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in thepr'esence of two witnesses.

GEORGE STU RG 1S5.

-Witn esses WALTER WV. BALL, F. HOOD. 

